When I first started on the internet I met a man called Daniel A. Stafford known as AQM or AquarianM(an). He has always been a lot of fun and we've had many laughs together. He's also a very talented poet and I proudly showcase a few poems he has written for me over the years. Daniel and I are still friends. 

Faerie City Lights

Walk in the doors there along the way, 
Oh, maybe about sunset today, 
Between the giant brass lions, 
and get somehow past gates of iron. 

Shhhhh! Quietly peek. 

Step quietly in the dark lest they hear, 
and as the bottom of the marble stairs appear, 
You will hear tiny tinkling laughing voices, 
And be certain to contain any noises. 

If you listen closely to hear them speak. 

See a light peek through a crack in the wall, 
A tile pops out and open without a fall, 
And a tiny faerie princess three inches small, 
Spreads her wings and flies up over it all. 

Trailing glowing motes of faerie dust in her wake. 

A gilt silver and golden silk gown, 
Tiny Prince and Princess a night on the town. 
And the spectacle would make the museum keeper frown, 
But the little folk will make the merry go 'round. 

Wee little instruments that tiny hands play. 

You can hear the music in the tiny town, 
Victorian houses full of laughter and joy, 
And parties galore in the hall all around, 
Glass faced victorian rooms in perfect miniature. 

Magic spells craft visual delights. 

Tiny rainbows dance over miniature marble floors, 
And crystal horses sparkle in perfect parade, 
Stars twinkle in circles around every head and more, 
And tiny musicians play sweet serenades. 

Lilliput dances 'til dawn. 

AquarianM 

By: Daniel A. Stafford 
 ©2000 

Daniel says..........

I just spent two hours at the Chicago Art Museum today with my son. The first thing we saw? There is an exhibit there, done by a woman who's name I cannot remember, but who's work I shall never forget. Perfect little portions of victorian houses and renaissance castles, living rooms, bedrooms, a marble bath, grand stairwells, tiny gardens, Chinese and Japanese homes, and a grand cathedral in a size such that a foot in real life is an inch in this incredibly beautiful  miniature city, a mixture of London, Paris, Amsterdam, Beijiing, Tokyo, Venice, Chicago, and Rome. A miniature world set in the 16th through 19th centuries. It is something you must see to believe. I couldn't help but picture the wee folk filling it with dance and song and romance in the secret hours... 

And so I conjure a party just for my friend Spinny. 

The next one Daniel wrote for me when I had to drop out of pcla for awhile when I was ill. He wrote this to let me know he was thinking of me.

There was a bluebird flying across the sky, 
She was distant and way up high, 
She had flown from across the Earth, 
And she landed somewhere in a tree, 
I remember her songs they were kind and sweet, 
Miss that nice little birdie's chirping tweet, 
Cheer up blue bird and sing again, 
Maybe say "hi" to an old friend - 
Who thinks of you when you once flew, 
And believes you'll fly again. 

Be well, my friend, Dan

©Daniel A. Stafford  22 Sep 2002 

The next one from Daniel came about because he knew I was upset and he wrote it to cheer me up. It worked. Daniel has been such a good friend.

Gossamer Soul

If there is a font of kindness you have drawn it's draught surely,
In the well of imagination you have bathed by Moonlight,
Dancing upon clouds you rain smiles upon the Earth,
Even filled with tears to bursting you are a light among shadows,
Knowing that to be human is to feel pain you still exude joy,
Worry not that your empathy is leaden. (It isn't so.)

If you impart laugh light into darkness then you have sung your brightest song.

Whirl upon your pedestal amidst the soul flowers,
Itself merely the earthen hill where the sunrise is your backlight,
Innocent wisdom becomes you,
As we are all graced to know your name,
When you light upon your castle's ramparts,
Rainbow wings folded shut and having done what you must...

Be filled with knowing that this is enough.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
 © 09/28/2005

Author's Comments:
For Spinny.